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Family feud ignites at Tony's Seafood after 5 years of reported mudslinging

tony's seafood baton rouge

Every family has its ups and downs, but the squabbles at Tony's Seafood, a wildly popular Baton Rouge market and deli on Plank Road, seem to have taken a turn for the worse. (Photo via Tony's Seafood Facebook)

Every family has its ups and downs, but the squabbles at Tony's Seafood, a wildly popular Baton Rouge market and deli on Plank Road, seem to have taken a turn for the worse. According to court filings obtained by The Advocate, a family dispute that dates back to 2007 has reached a fever pitch pitting one brother against another.

A judge is currently being asked to dissolve the Pizzolato Investment Co., which was formed in 1992 by Tony Pizzolato, the founder of Tony's Seafood and Louisiana Fish Fry as well as the now-deceased Pizzolato patriarch. The firm was arranged to hold profits from the family's companies and investments, and it's co-owned equally by each of Tony Pizzolato's children -- Bill, Joey, Mike, Cliff, Tad and Ceily -- each of whom reap quarterly payouts from the company.

Now, however, Cliff Pizzolato, who helped co-found Louisiana Fish Fry with his father, is looking to dissolve the investment company.

According to the Advocate, the lawsuit states Cliff Pizzolato claims his eldest brother and current Tony's Seafood president Bill Pizzolato, "has abused his position to denigrate and bully" him.

The court filings show a history of mudslinging between the brother, which Cliff Pizzolato claims to have begun in 2007. At that time, Cliff Pizzolato said Bill became angry about mandatory drug and alcohol testing for any children of the owners who wished to continue working at the family businesses.

Cliff Pizzolato claims his older brother then used company assets to bribe their siblings into pushing him out of a position of influence. Cliff Pizzolato told The Advocate that he's lost "his share of at least $3 million, maybe up to $7 million in potential profits from Pizzolato Investments."

The case has been assigned to 19th Judicial District Judge Kay Bates. A statement from Pizzolato Investments made it clear those in charge of the company do not believe the lawsuit will hold water. They except the case will be "dismissed in its entirety, or at least amended to correct the false and baseless claims."

Tony's Seafood recently came in the spotlight after multiple sources confirmed the business would have a new location in the Perkins Overpass area, but a company representative debunked those reports Feb. 10.